Recap: Spurs 112, Blazers 109

Putting it in perspective: The Spurs had almost everything going against them Saturday night in Portland. A 14-point deficit early in the fourth quarter. Tony Parker, out with a stomach virus. Seven-game losing streak at the Rose Garden. Horrible ball security (21 turnovers) for the third straight game. Somehow they made it work, riding a dominant performance from their bench to escape with their second victory in as many nights.

Player of the game: Gary Neal is known for his ability to get hot quickly. But hot to the tune of a career-high 27 points in 32 minutes, including 15 in the decisive fourth quarter? More like a nuclear meltdown, Three Mile Island style. Neal drained his first attempt of the fourth quarter, kicking off a 14-0 run that put the Spurs in front for the first time since the opening minutes. He made 6 of 7 shots in the period, even drawing a double team well beyond the 3-point line that eventually netted a three-point play for Tim Duncan.

Play of the game: For all the huge shots and dramatic turns of fortune in Saturday’s game, it was a decidedly unsexy possession that put the Spurs ahead for good. Manu Ginobili, doing what he’s done hundreds of times in his career, coming hard off a pick and roll, hurled himself toward the rim and drew the shooting foul with 12.9 seconds left and the game tied at 109 after Nicolas Batum’s long-range 3. He sank both free throws to provide the winning margin.

Continuation

* The Spurs got their first look at vaunted Blazers rookie Damian Lillard, and the encounter has to be considered a success. He notched just five points and one assist in the second half after shredding the Spurs for 15 and five in the first. Hard to tell exactly what the Spurs did without studying the game again, but I did notice the long-armed Danny Green spent multiple positions on the young point guard.

* The Spurs also did a respectable job on power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, forcing him to take 26 shots to score 29 points. Despite giving up a good three inches and being weakened by the same bug that sidelined Parker, the long-armed Stephen Jackson did an especially solid job on Aldridge, forcing him off the block and onto the perimeter. That’s probably where Aldridge wants to be to begin with, but limiting him to just two baskets in the paint was a big victory.

* And, the biggest victory of all – the Spurs bench, such a huge strength in recent years, was at its absolute best Saturday, dominating the Blazers to the tune of 63-4. Nope, that’s not a misprint – 63-4. In addition to Neal’s heroics, Ginobili was Ginobili for the first time this season with 17 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals and the game-winning free throws.

* The Spurs had another tough time protecting the ball, committing 21 turnovers for a total of 61 over the past three outings. They’ll drop even further after entering the game with the 10th worst turnover percentage in the NBA.

* Ho, hum — another great game for Duncan with 22 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in 32 minutes.